Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A method of profiling communication traffic of users in a data network, comprising: monitoring communication traffic originated by a user of a communication terminal; assigning to the user of the communication terminal a unique and anonymous user traffic identifier, wherein the user traffic identifier is related to a user address assigned to the communication terminal in the data network, and wherein the user traffic identifier is adapted to be included in the communication traffic with respect to that user; communicating the unique and anonymous user traffic identifier to the user communication terminal to allow the user communication terminal to include the user traffic identifier in user traffic; upon receiving communication traffic including the user traffic identifier, obtaining, by a first device, a descriptor of received communication traffic useful to describe the received traffic, sending, by the first device, a tracking notification including the obtained descriptor, and allowing the received communication traffic to reach an intended destination of the received communication traffic; at least temporarily storing the obtained descriptor; and building an anonymous user profile related to communication activities of the user based on the stored descriptor.
A method for profiling user communication traffic in a data network: The system monitors communication traffic originating from a user's communication terminal and assigns a unique, anonymous user traffic identifier related to the user's network address. This identifier is designed to be included in the user's outgoing traffic. The system communicates the identifier to the user's terminal, enabling the terminal to include it in subsequent traffic. Upon receiving traffic containing this identifier, a first device extracts a descriptor of the traffic, sends a tracking notification containing the descriptor, and allows the traffic to proceed to its intended destination. The extracted descriptor is temporarily stored, and the system builds an anonymous user profile based on the user's communication activities using the stored descriptors.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user traffic identifier comprises a cookie adapted to be included in the communication traffic generated by and addressed to the user communication terminal.
The method for profiling user communication traffic where the user traffic identifier is a cookie. This cookie is designed to be included in the communication traffic generated by and addressed to the user's communication terminal, allowing the system to track and profile traffic associated with that user based on the cookie's presence.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said assigning the user traffic identifier comprises: upon receiving communication traffic originated by the user communication terminal, assessing, by the first device, whether the received communication traffic includes the user traffic identifier; and in response to the received communication traffic not including the user traffic identifier, generating a unique and anonymous user traffic identifier to be assigned to a network address of the user communication terminal.
In the method for profiling user communication traffic using a cookie (a cookie adapted to be included in the communication traffic generated by and addressed to the user communication terminal), assigning the user traffic identifier works as follows: When communication traffic originates from the user's terminal, a first device checks whether the received traffic already includes a user traffic identifier (cookie). If the traffic doesn't include the identifier, the system generates a new, unique, and anonymous user traffic identifier to be assigned to the network address of the user's communication terminal.
4. The method of claim 3 , comprising: upon receiving communication traffic originated by the user communication terminal not including the unique and anonymous user traffic identifier, requesting the user communication terminal to re-send the communication traffic for assignment; in response to the user communication terminal requesting the user communication terminal to re-send the communication traffic to be assigned, generating the unique and anonymous user traffic identifier; and wherein the communicating the unique and anonymous user traffic identifier to the user communication terminal to allow the user communication terminal to include the user traffic identifier in the user traffic includes: including the generated unique and anonymous user traffic identifier in a response sent to the user communication terminal, wherein the received communication traffic originated by the user communication terminal includes an original destination.
The method for profiling user communication traffic using a cookie (a cookie adapted to be included in the communication traffic generated by and addressed to the user communication terminal) includes the following when communication traffic originates from the user terminal and *doesn't* have the user traffic identifier: The system requests the user's terminal to resend the traffic for assignment. When the user's terminal complies, the system generates the unique identifier. The system then communicates the generated identifier to the user's terminal by including it in a response message sent back to the user's terminal. The original destination of the user's traffic is preserved and tracked.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said requesting the user communication terminal to re-send the communication traffic to a user traffic identifier to be as signed includes: sending to the user communication terminal an HTTP message including a URL associated with assigning the user traffic identifier, and including an original URL contained in the communication traffic received from the user communication terminal.
In the method where the system requests the user communication terminal to resend traffic without a user traffic identifier to assign one, the request involves sending an HTTP message to the user's terminal. This message includes a URL specifically associated with assigning the user traffic identifier. Crucially, the original URL (destination) contained in the communication traffic received from the user's terminal is also included in this HTTP message, ensuring that the original destination is not lost during the identifier assignment process.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the response sent to the user communication terminal includes a request for the user communication terminal to re-send the communication traffic with the user traffic identifier for assignment.
In the method where the system requests the user communication terminal to resend traffic without a user traffic identifier to assign one, the response sent to the user communication terminal includes a specific request: the user communication terminal is asked to resend the communication traffic *with* the newly assigned user traffic identifier for assignment validation. This ensures the system receives the traffic again with the identifier correctly included.
7. The method of claim 6 , comprising: upon receiving, from the user communication terminal, the response including the user traffic identifier, starting monitoring of the user communication traffic, and sending to the user communication terminal a further response requesting the user communication terminal to re-send the communication traffic to the original destination.
The method for profiling user communication traffic includes: After receiving the response from the user terminal that *now* includes the user traffic identifier, the system begins monitoring the user's communication traffic. It then sends a further response to the user's terminal, instructing it to resend the traffic to its *original* destination. This completes the identifier assignment process and redirects the user's traffic to its intended target.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication traffic comprises information related to at least one transaction, and the descriptor comprises one or more of: information related to end points involved in the transaction, and information about a time the transaction occurred.
In the method for profiling user communication traffic, the communication traffic itself includes information about transactions. The descriptor, used for building the user profile, comprises one or more of the following: information about the endpoints (source and destination) involved in the transaction and information about the time the transaction occurred. These details provide context for the user's activities.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said monitoring communication traffic originated by the user of the communication terminal includes analyzing communication traffic packets originated by the user communication terminal.
In the method for profiling user communication traffic, monitoring traffic originating from a user's terminal involves analyzing the communication traffic packets that originate from the user's communication terminal. The system inspects the content of these packets to understand the nature and destination of the user's communication.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said building a user profile includes building a list of web pages accessed by the user in a web browsing session.
In the method for profiling user communication traffic, building a user profile includes creating a list of the web pages that the user accessed during a web browsing session. This list provides a record of the user's online activity and interests.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein monitoring communication traffic originated by a user of a communication terminal includes: monitoring, by the first device, communication traffic originated by a user of a communication terminal.
In the method for profiling user communication traffic, the first device specifically monitors communication traffic originating from a user's communication terminal.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least temporarily storing the obtained descriptor comprises: responsive to receiving the tracking notification, at least temporarily storing, by a second device, the obtained descriptor, and wherein building the anonymous user profile comprises: building, by the second device, the anonymous user profile related to communication activities of the user based on the stored descriptor.
In the method for profiling user communication traffic, the obtained descriptor is temporarily stored by a *second* device in response to receiving the tracking notification from the first device. Then, the *second* device builds the anonymous user profile related to the user's communication activities based on the stored descriptor. The profile building and initial traffic analysis are thus handled by separate devices.
13. A system for profiling communication traffic of users in a data network, comprising: one or more processors; one or more non-transitory computer readable media having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause functions to be performed including: monitoring communication traffic originated by or addressed to a communication terminal of a user; assessing whether received communication traffic of the user is being monitored based on a user address in the data network and the inclusion in the communication traffic of a unique and anonymous user traffic identifier; upon determining that the received communication traffic includes the user traffic identifier, extracting, by a first apparatus, a descriptor of the communication traffic, sending, by the first apparatus, a tracking notification including the extracted descriptor, and allowing the communication traffic to reach an intended destination of the communication traffic; and causing at least temporary storage of the extracted descriptor.
A system for profiling user communication traffic in a data network includes one or more processors and non-transitory computer-readable media. When executed, the system monitors communication traffic originating from or addressed to a user's communication terminal. It assesses whether the received traffic is being monitored based on a user address and the presence of a unique, anonymous user traffic identifier. If the traffic includes the identifier, a first apparatus extracts a descriptor of the traffic, sends a tracking notification containing the descriptor, and allows the traffic to reach its intended destination. The extracted descriptor is then temporarily stored.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein said user traffic identifier comprises a cookie.
The system for profiling user communication traffic, where the user traffic identifier is a cookie.
15. A data network including the system of claim 13 .
A data network that *includes* the system for profiling user communication traffic. The system monitors communication traffic originating from or addressed to a user's communication terminal. It assesses whether the received traffic is being monitored based on a user address and the presence of a unique, anonymous user traffic identifier. If the traffic includes the identifier, a first apparatus extracts a descriptor of the traffic, sends a tracking notification containing the descriptor, and allows the traffic to reach its intended destination. The extracted descriptor is then temporarily stored.
16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the one or more non-transitory computer readable media having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause functions to be performed including: requesting the user communication terminal to re-send the communication traffic to be assigned a user traffic identifier in case the received communication traffic does not include the user traffic identifier; assigning to the user of the communication terminal a unique and anonymous user traffic identifier, wherein the user traffic identifier is related to a user address assigned to the communication terminal in the data network, and wherein the user traffic identifier is adapted to be included in the communication traffic with respect to that user; and communicating the unique and anonymous user traffic identifier to the user communication terminal to allow the user communication terminal to include the user traffic identifier in user traffic.
The system for profiling user communication traffic includes the following functions: If the received communication traffic *doesn't* include the user traffic identifier, the system requests the user's terminal to resend the traffic to be assigned an identifier. The system assigns a unique and anonymous user traffic identifier related to the user's network address and communicates this identifier to the user's terminal so the user terminal includes the identifier in future traffic.
17. The system of claim 13 , wherein assigning to the user of the communication terminal a unique and anonymous user traffic identifier includes: generating the unique user traffic identifier; and sending a response to the user communication terminal including the user traffic identifier, the response requesting the user communication terminal to re-send the communication traffic to an original destination including the user traffic identifier.
In the system for profiling user communication traffic, assigning a unique and anonymous user traffic identifier includes: generating the unique user traffic identifier; sending a response to the user's terminal that contains the generated user traffic identifier. That response also requests the user's terminal to resend the communication traffic, including the user traffic identifier, to its original destination.
18. The system of claim 13 , wherein monitoring communication traffic originated by a user of a communication terminal includes: monitoring, by the first apparatus, communication traffic originated by a user of a communication terminal.
In the system for profiling user communication traffic, the first apparatus monitors communication traffic originating from a user's communication terminal.
19. The system of claim 13 , wherein the one or more non-transitory computer readable media having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause functions to be performed including: responsive to receiving the tracking notification, storing, by a second apparatus, the extracted descriptor; and building, by the second apparatus, an anonymous user profile related to communication activities of the user based on the descriptors stored in the second apparatus.
The system for profiling user communication traffic functions as follows: a *second* apparatus stores the extracted descriptor in response to receiving the tracking notification. Then, the *second* apparatus builds an anonymous user profile related to the user's communication activities based on the descriptors stored in the second apparatus. The descriptor storage and profile building is thus handled by a separate apparatus.
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August 26, 2014
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